C. Palmer Packard ’48

Palmer Packard died Dec. 4, 2010, at age 85. His wife of 60 years, Dodee, was at his bedside. Palmer had many health problems over the years, including melanoma, congestive heart failure, kidney disease requiring dialysis and lung cancer. He was a courageous fighter throughout his ill health and was admired by all who knew him.

Palmer was born April 26, 1925, in Minneapolis. His family heritage can be traced back to the Mayflower and Plymouth Rock. He was a descendant of John and Priscilla Alden.

Palmer was in the Class of 1948, but he actually graduated from Amherst in June 1947 with a degree in economics. He was a member of Chi Psi fraternity. He attended several Amherst reunions, three with his wife, Dodee. He always enjoyed seeing old friends.

He was an account executive with Campbell Mithun Advertising in Minneapolis and was transferred to their Hollywood, Calif., office in 1958. He worked with the team that created the Hamms Black Bear and the Hamms Beer commercial featuring their tag line, “the land of sky blue waters.” He bought the film rights to a David Niven novel and had been a partner in the company Project Films.

Palmer was an active community volunteer in Studio City, Calif., where he lived. He was one of the founders and creative director of the Studio City Park Players. They produced several Broadway Theater Classics, including Harvey and The Man Who Came to Dinner.

Palmer was a past president and member of the Studio City Park Advisory Board. He also developed and ran the “Over 50” tennis program at the park.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy “Dodee;” his sons Clayton (Colleen), Craig and Cory; three grandchildren; and his sister, Mary Emmer, and 10 Emmer niece and nephews. We all will miss him.